Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the updated Elite Program list as well as the new Pre-Elite list and Development Program list.

“We just wrapped up our series of Elite Program home visits and Pre-Elite Training and Observation sessions,” said Dover. “I am very happy and excited by the quality of the horses and the riding. Our veterans are in fantastic form and the new faces on the horizon for American dressage are looking extraordinary. There is no doubt the depth of great combinations is increasing exponentially.”

The Elite Program was established to provide support and resources to athlete/horse combinations that have proven they are internationally competitive. Combinations qualify for the program based on scores received at CDI3*/CDIO3* or above competitions in the last 12 months. View the complete criteria.

In alphabetical order, the following athlete/horse combinations meet the criteria for Elite Program membership:

Laura Graves (Geneva, Fla.) and Verdades, her 15-year-old KWPN gelding

Charlotte Jorst (Reno, Nev.) and Kastel’s Nintendo, Kastel Denmark’s 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz (Haymarket, Va.) and Lonoir, her and Mary Anne McPhail’s 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding

Adrienne Lyle (Ketchum, Idaho) and Salvino, Salvino Partners, LLC’s 10-year-old Hanoverian stallion

Kasey Perry-Glass (Orangevale, Calif.) and Goerklintgaards Dublet, Diane Perry’s 14-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding

Steffen Peters (San Diego, Calif.) and Rosamunde, Four Winds Farm’s 10-year-old Rheinlander mare

 

The Dressage Pre-Elite List underpins the Elite Program and seeks to provide support and guidance to those combinations in the 69-73% Grand Prix score range so they are able to succeed in reaching Elite Member status (consistent 73%+ score range). View the complete criteria.

In alphabetical order, the following athlete/horse combinations meet the criteria for Pre-Elite Program membership:

Katherine Bateson Chandler (Wellington, Fla.) and Alcazar, Jane Clark’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding

Shelly Francis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Danilo, Patricia Stempel’s 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding and Doktor, Patricia Stempel’s 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding

Catherine Haddad-Staller (Wellington, Fla.) and Semper Fidelis, Rowan O’Riley’s 11-year-old Oldenburg mare

Chase Hickok (Wellington, Fla.) and Sagacious HF, Hyperion Farm, Inc.’s 18-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding

Ashley Holzer (New York, N.Y.) and Havanna 145, Diane Fellows’ 10-year-old Hanoverian mare

Adrienne Lyle (Ketchum, Idaho) and Horizon, Betsy Juliano’s 10-year-old Oldenburg mare

Arlene Page (Wellington, Fla.) and Woodstock, her 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding

Steffen Peters (San Diego, Calif.) and Suppenkasper, Four Winds Farm’s nine-year-old KWPN gelding

Kathleen Raine (Murrieta, Calif.) and Breanna, her and Jennifer Mason’s 17-year-old Hanoverian mare

P.J. Rizvi (Greenwich, Conn.) and Breaking Dawn, her and Ashley Holzer’s 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding

Dawn White-O’Connor (Cardiff, Calif.) and Legolas 92, Four Winds Farm’s 15-year-old Westphalian gelding

 

The Dressage Development Program has also identified several combinations for membership in 2017. The Development Program continues to be generously supported by USET Foundation Trustee Akiko Yamazaki and the Red Husky Foundation.

Debbie McDonald, US Equestrian Dressage Development Coach, brings over 10 years of experience in helping the Development Program grow and moving athlete/horse combinations along the dressage pathways. “I am so excited about how our programs are moving forward,” McDonald shared. “With these new lists coming to life, I think it will generate enthusiasm to fill riders’ pipeline of horses. By now recognizing them early, we can hopefully help direct riders and coaches on plans and goals. They will now feel there is an interest in them and their success. I think we all are inspired by these programs.”

In alphabetical order, the following athlete/horse combinations have been selected for Development Program membership:

Nora Batchelder (Williston, Fla.) and Fifi MLW, her eight-year-old Hanoverian mare

Jennifer Baumert (Wellington, Fla.) and Handsome, Betsy Juliano’s 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding

Patti Becker (Wadsworth, Ill.) and Freedom, Anne Ramsay’s 10-year-old Oldenburg stallion

Kaitlin Blythe (Rougemont, N.C.) and Eden LHF, her eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare

Michael Bragdell (Colora, Md.) and Sternlicht Hilltop, Hilltop Farm, Inc.’s seven-year-old Hanoverian stallion

Michael Bragdell (Colora, Md.) and Qredit Hilltop, Hilltop Farm, Inc.’s nine-year-old Oldenburg stallion

Nicole Levy (Wellington, Fla.) and Floratina, Kate Sanders’ nine-year-old Hanoverian mare

Adrienne Lyle (Ketchum, Idaho) and Harmony’s Duval, Duval Partners LLC’s nine-year-old KWPN gelding

Amy Miller (Fullerton, Calif.) and Encore, her eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding

Carly Taylor-Smith (Malibu, Calif.) and Rosalut NHF, Nikki Taylor-Smith’s seven-year-old Oldenburg gelding

 

For more information, please contact Hallye Griffin, Managing Director of Dressage, at (859) 225-6949 or [email protected] and follow USA Dressage on Facebook.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members